It Happened in Pittsburgh…

By: Ben Strauss


It happened sometime between July 12 and July 14, 2006. I don’t think. I know. It was All-Star Weekend in Pittsburgh and even though I can’t tell you what happened or who was responsible I know something happened. Something happened to the Chicago White Sox, and they haven’t been the same since.

It has been beaten to death over the past couple of weeks just how bad the Sox have become. Losers of 17 of 21 before Monday’s triumph over the equally-bad Marlins, and averaging a paltry 3.38 runs per game in that stretch; eight games under .500 for the first time since June of 2003; double-digit games out of first for the first time since September 2004. With a bullpen more flammable than a California pine forest after a three-year drought and an offense weaker than FDR’s legs, the White Sox have gone from baseball’s best to one of baseball’s worst faster than you can call Jay Mariotti a… well, you get the idea.

The current batch of losing has forced Chicago baseball fans to take notice. Mediocre you can ignore, but losing so bad that it makes you want to watch a Cubs team that’s still six games under .500 is unavoidable. What we have here is the culmination of six months of bad baseball, not a tide that turned on the White Sox two weeks ago, two months ago or even when Juan Uribe was accused of murder this winter. No, it can all be traced back to last year’s All-Star game, somewhere in between Michael Young’s game-winning triple and the two-hour flight home from Pittsburgh.

Since that seemingly innocent July 11th, the White Sox are 60-76. In the 133 games before that, 88-45 (including an 11-1 romp through the playoffs). What gives? Same manager, pitching coach and hitting coach. Same Konerko, Dye and Pierzynski. Same Buehrle, Garland and Contreras. And yet, not the same at all.

Maybe it’s the injuries. Perhaps the new green seats at US Cellular. What about the new 7:11 start time? Maybe there was something in the water - the Allegheny River is no Lake Michigan. To be fair, Scott Podsednik, the catalyst of the reincarnation of the Go-Go Sox has spent more time on the disabled list than in the leadoff spot since he was wiping champagne from his eyes on Michigan Avenue. Also gone is die-hard Bears fan Aaron Rowand, who patrolled center field like a strong safety. He’s now busy hitting grand slams against the Sox. But still, they couldn’t have taken all the wins with them, could they?

The White Sox had seven All-Stars in Pittsburgh last July. It seemed like a joyous occasion, a veritable celebration of South Side baseball. Ozzie Guillen was the center of attention, and not just because of his mouth. His team was a lock to at least return to the playoffs and a favorite to enjoy another run of success. The American League even won the game, giving Sox fans hope that for a second year in a row Game 1of the World Series might be played at 35th and Shields.

Today, though, World Series dreams are farther away than Lance Briggs sending Jerry Angelo a friendship bracelet. As far as we know, all seven players made it home safely from Pittsburgh - but the way they’ve played during the second half of last year and now this year, who knows? The same goes for Guillen and his coaches; I haven’t read about anyone finding Greg Walker’s brain in a Pittsburgh area dumpster.

Either way, it just hasn’t been the same team that captured the city’s imagination and took us on a magic carpet ride two years ago. That team found ways to win; these new Sox find ways to lose. Those Sox won games they should have lost; these new Sox lose games they ought to win.

The collapse of the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox has been cruel, but if Kenny Williams wants answers they’re not in Charlotte and not in free agency. They are in PNC Park in Pittsburgh. No matter what horrors he may find, it can’t possibly be any worse than watching this Sox team for the rest of the year.

So grab a shovel, Kenny. Happy digging.

Ben Strauss was born and raised in Chicago and is currently a senior at Ithaca College. He vomits everytime a Yankee fan turns on the YES Network, and can be reached at bstraus1@ithaca.edu.

Share This Article

No Comments

No comments yet.

Comment On This Article